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Monday, November 03, 2008

Vote Like There's No Tomorrow

Ronald Reagan is at this moment on his death bed. Yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking. The dirty old dingbat kicked the bucket nearly three-and-a-half years ago, true. But the revolution which bears his name and the era of unprecedented greed, incompetence and political corruption which was ushered in with his election in November of 1980, is about to go the way of the 45 RPM and the 8-Track tape. The twenty-eight year period of right wing lunacy which has destroyed the infrastructure of a country which used to be a nice place in which to live, is within hours of being shoveled onto history's shit pile. And you and I are going to make it happen.`Tomorrow night,the so-called Reagan Revolution will be rendered dead as a door nail. Deader than the Gipper himself.`But it's only going to happen if we all make a Herculean effort to get out the vote. Otherwise, we're in for at least four more years of the slowly closing coffin of America's cultural and economic suicide. If enough people foolishly choose to send John McCain and Gidget von Braun to the Oval Office - to the White House, for Heaven's sake -I will probably be the only person in the country who makes less than two-hundred and fifty-thousand dollars a year who will benefit.`I'm the type of guy who, if you give me a bag full of really nasty tasting lemons, I'll go out and whip up a pitcher of juicy, thirst quenching lemonade. Such was the case when George W. Bush became president of the United States. Although the disgusting, half-witted little thug was the worst thing to ever happen to this country, he was the best thing that ever happened to me! The hideous little jackass has damned near made me famous. If you don't believe that, "google" my name sometime. See what comes up. We've been quoted in several newspapers and magazines world wide and have been mentioned in a book (AmoralAmerica by Robert Fearn). They're starting to talk about "The Rant" out there, folks. Note to the good people at the Kellogg's Corn Flake Company, Battle Creek, Michigan: I'm open for advertisements.`If Wednesday morning's headline reads that McCain and Unable were somehow able to pull off the biggest upset since Truman defeated Dewey sixty years ago this week, I'll be fine and dandy, thank you very much! I'll have been delivered four more years of dynamite political material to write about. Also, I'm a millionaire! That's not a subject that I particularly like to talk about but it's the truth. Believe me, if the American people are naive enough to send John McCain to the White House tomorrow night, I'll be swimming in the gravy, baby! Don't cry for me! Cry for yourselves. Better yet, cry for your children; cry for your grandchildren. They're the ones who are eventually going to suffer - horribly. Not me, though! Truth be told, people like me did great during George W. Bush's reign of error! In fact, I did so well under Bush, I was able to quit my job and devote myself to writing full time.Life is literally peppered with these delicious little ironies, isn't it.`Think about this for a minute: Barack Obama has surrounded himself with brilliant people. The campaign they have run is as well orchestrated as a Swiss watch. John McCain has surrounded himself with reactionary, political hacks. The man who literally wrote the laws which directly led to our current fiscal meltdown, former Texas senator, Phil Gramm, was slated to be the Secretary of the Treasury in a McCain administration. His campaign has been directionless and disorganized.`Here's the sixty-four dollar question:Which group do you want managing the executive branch of your government for the next four years? Ah! I thought as much!`As I have said so many times it's starting to sound trite: This is the most important election in our lifetimes. Not since Franklin Delano Roosevelt sent Herbert Hoover packing back to Iowa have the stakes been higher (FOR THE HISTORICAL RECORD: Hoover actually spent his remaining thirty-two years of life living in a suite of rooms at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The only time he went back to Iowa was to be buried there). The Republican party has been hijacked by an organized conspiracy of kooks, criminals and fools - and they show no signs that they are about to rehabilitate themselves anytime soon. As Paul Krugman wrote in his column in this morning's New York Times:`"The G.O.P.'s long transformation into the party of the unreasonable right, a haven for racists and reactionaries, seems likely to accelerate as a result of the impending defeat."`Heavens to Betsy! It just doesn't get any better than Krugman. It really doesn't!`Send the message to as many people as possible. Forward to them this column if you have to. (The more readers the merrier, ya know what I mean?) The results of tomorrow's election will be resounding three-quarters of a century from today - and beyond. Don't believe it? Do you or any members of your family depend on a monthly Social Security check from the government? Do you seriously think that they'd be getting that check today had Hoover had won in 1932? As I said before, the stakes have never been higher. We've still got work to do.`Where I live in New York state, Barack Obama is a sure thing. All I can do is get the message out to those of you who live in the so-called "purple states" like Florida or Virginia or North Carolina or New Mexico or Ohio or my mother's home state of Indiana (Hi, Uncle Bob! Hi, Aunt Nancy!) The party of Rush Limbaugh was able to steal the elections in 2000 and 2004 because victory depended on a slim margin in single states (Florida and Ohio respectively). What we need in 2008 is a landslide. Barack Obama will need more than a 49/51 victory. If he is going to be able to govern effectively, he'll need a mandate! Let's get to work.`Just think about the historical ramifications of tomorrow night! This country, which was literally built upon the lacerated back of the Negro slave, is about to send to the White Housean African American. And not just any African American!Senator Obama is not Jesse Jackson; He's not Al Sharpton. His is without a doubt the most extraordinary candidacy to come down the political pike in our lifetime - or at least since Jack Kennedy in 1960. If we reject him for the likes of John McCain and Sarah Palin - SARAH FREAKING PALIN??? - honestly,were going to look like a nation of knuckleheads, don'cha think?`By the way, former Monty Python member John Cleese recently made the following observation, "I used to think that Michael was the world's funniest Palin". Not any longer. Not by a long shot.`We're almost there. If you can afford to, take tomorrow off; volunteer to drive your home bound, elderly neighbor to the polling place; make phone calls; if you're an African American, make damned sure that all of your friends and everyone in your family gets out and votes. We're within reach of taking our country back from these hideous bastards and bitches. They're going to challenge our votes - particularly the votes of the young and people of color. We've got to make a massive effort. It's our country, goddammit, and we're going to take it back!`God help them if they try to stop us.`Tom DeganGoshen, NYtomdegan@frontiernet.net`AFTERTHOUGHT:`The photograph to the left of the column is of an RCA Victor record album that Reagan recorded in 1964. It was called. "Ronald Reagan speaks out against SOCIALIZED MEDICINE". It was a forty minute diatribe against Medicare and Medicaid. You can hear it in its entirety on You Tube. It's an absolute scream. What can I say? The man was a contemptible asshole.`Special thanks to Louise Carle for the photo at the top of the page of Senator Obama embracing one of the millions of victims of this disgusting administration.`FLASH!!!Just seventy-seven days to go until the Bush Mob is History!

We are indeed on the cusp of making major history, aren't we? But I'm not going to rest until Senator McCain conceeds defeat. Anything can happen between now and then - and probably will. These bastrds are capable of anything.

I have already voted for Obama; I wish it would have been Hillary because I still think she was the smartest candidate. BUT before someone says "get over it" ... I am. Always enjoy your comments and articles and enjoyed Transiberian. Keep up the good work.

Tom... keeping a weary eye open until I hear those soon to be immortal words... "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear..."

don't put nothing past mcpain and wombat beforehand...

hey when Obama says those words, Bush Cheney and the rest of the mob will be outside international waters on the way to Dubai and Paraguay... think they will spend the rest of their lives in federal prison or in permanent rogue exile of their own making...

imagine not being to go into town for fear of being arrested by international forces... karma!!!!

It's so very sad that she leaves the earth and its worries and cares to be free and yet misses the opportunity to see that WE THE PEOPLE have chosen to elect her Grandson so that we may live in a world where our cares and worries, with hope, will lessen.

Many prayers across the Nation will be said for the pioneering spirit that Madelyn Lee Payne Dunham, as a WWII Boeing Inspector on planes being sent to the troops, and rising from Bank Teller to Female Bank Executive, a trail blazer.

Women owe her for that spirit of feminism that touch those around her and those who learned of her accomplishments. Men became feminist too, because they learned that women, such as Madelyn, were not threats to their masculinity or employment, but enhanced and brought different skill sets and thinking processes which enhanced the work experience and reshaped and provided more opportunities to and for women.

She has done a fine job of instilling virtues and ideals into a child that became who we want to lead us out of some very DARK TIMES in the country she and her husband worked to save in WWII.

Let her looked down upon WE THE PEOPLE who will have decided to return our government to its Constitutional beginnings and the PREAMBLE TO THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

God, be with us all as we are witness and participants in the historical reshaping of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

This is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I feel it in the air, yes even here in Newfoundland, I know the good people of St. John's will be happy to rid the world of Chimpy- the beginning of the end for the worst presidency in the history of the USA.

So my American friends in NY, NC, GA, CA, MA and other places, VOTE!!!!! (Most already have, you guys and girls are awesome!).

THIS IS GREAT!!!!!!!!As I said Tom, my friends from Vancouver to Halifax and here will be webcaming the election. I'll be drinking my Blue and cheering the results. It's been a long time since I've felt such optimism!!!

Keep up the great work Tom. I remember that day on N. Church st. in Goshen- your Tom Degan, right? I love your blog!!!!!

'Twas the night before elections> > *'Twas the night before elections*> *And all through the town*> *Tempers were flaring*> *Emotions all up and down!*> **> *I, in my bathrobe*> *With a cat in my lap*> *Had cut off the TV*> *Tired of political crap.*> **> *When all of a sudden*> *There arose such a noise*> *I peered out of my window*> *Saw Obama and his boys*> **> *They had come for my wallet*> *They wanted my pay*> *To give to the others*> *Who had not worked a day!*> **> *He snatched up my money*> *And quick as a wink*> *Jumped back on his bandwagon*> *As I gagged from the stink*> **> *He then rallied his henchmen*> *Who were pulling his cart*> *I could tell they were out*> *To tear my country apart!*> **> *' On Fannie, on Freddie, *> *On Biden and Ayers!*> *On Acorn, On Pelosi'*> *He screamed at the pairs!*> **> *They took off for his cause*> *And as he flew out of sight*> *I heard him laugh at the nation*> *Who wouldn't stand up and fight!*> **> *So I leave you to think*> *On this one final note-*> *IF YOU DONT WANT SOCIALISM*> *GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!*>

It is 3:13 A.M. Election Day. The polls will open in a few short hours. I have already voted. Today, I will go to the Broad Ripple Obama Headquarters and volunteer, which I have been doing for 2 months. I will keep busy until the polls close. I will try not to worry and fret. But, I will worry and fret. I don't expect Obama to carry Indiana. It is too conservative and socially backward. People here still defend Bush! However, it will be close. There is always the chance I am wrong. What a joy that would be! So much depends on this election: ending the war, healthcare, the environment, and on and on. If McCain wins, the United States will continue down the road to perdition. I really dont want to remain here, if only because I don't like stupid, selfish people. There are graves in Henry County and Montgomery County in Indiana where my ancestor's bones lie sleeping. These people were born in the late 1700's. They came here from France, Germany, England, Ireland, Wales. They came for a better life. They came to escape religious persecution (Hugenots). They did not come here to see the centuries bring us intolerance, avarice, corruption, and bigotry. My great-grandfather, Benjamin Swank, prosecuted 4 men who had murdered Native Americans. It was the first time in this country that white men were convicted for murdering Native Americans. He believed in equality for all. George W. Bush does NOT believe in equality. He is an elitist. So is John McCain with his 8 houses, wealthy second wife, and insistance that more tax cuts go to the wealthy. If he is elected, the difference between the classes will be furthered and reinforced. My ancestors did not come here for that; and I am not at all sure I want to remain to see it. So, I hope with all of my heart and soul that Obama wins today; and I can cry out: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" It has been a long and dispiriting 8 years. Obama can give us the future that Dr. King dreamed of and prayed would come.

A cousin sent the following to me the other day. I found it to be a remarkable exposé of what's probably accounting for a relatively close presidential contest, when in fact it shouldn't be. It shouldn't even be close, given this sitting president's abysmal popularity rating, and an economy on the verge of collapse.

Maybe it will not be close, despite what the closing polls have led us to believe. As I wrote to my brother late last night, "I'm wishing for the best, but preparing for the worse. I can't determine whether it's going to be an Obama landslide, or stolen by the G.O.P. Let's hope that sound minds and judgment prevail, otherwise we're in big trouble. It may already be too late."

With all the hype and interest this election generated, and whatever the outcome, I hope people maintain the same levels of vigor after the new government's in place. Liberty, justice, and true freedom require full citizen participation and oversight, something the American people haven't done -- much to their detriment.

I stood in line forty-five minutes this morning in my tiny little precinct. In the past, I've walked right in and maybe had half-a-dozen people, at most, in front of me. I heard on the TV last evening that they're expecting a 90% voter turnout in Virginia, my home state, for this election. That's incredible.

Wishing all the best to everyone this election day. Let's all hope for the best.

Anyway, here's what my cousin sent...

Here's an interesting speculation on the possible impact of racism in American politics.

Subject: What if things were switched around.....think about it.Would the country's collective point of view be different?

Could racism be the culprit?

Ponder the following:

What if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, including a three month old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?

What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law Review?

What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if McCain had only married once, and Obama was a divorcee?

What if Obama was the candidate who left his first wife after a severe disfiguring car accident, when she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affair while he was still married?

What if Michelle Obama was the wife who not only became addicted to pain killers but also acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?

What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?

What if Obama had been a member of the Keating Five? (The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s.)

What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

What if Obama couldn't read from a teleprompter?

What if Obama was the one who had military experience that included discipline problems and a record of crashing seven planes?

What if Obama was the one who was known to display publicly, on many occasions, a serious anger management problem?

What if Michelle Obama's family had made their money from beer distribution?

What if the Obamas had adopted a white child? You could easily add to this list. If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

Educational Background:

Barack Obama:

Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a specialization in International Relations.Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Joseph Biden:

University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Thanks so much for sharing that. I have read it before and it is so true. As I said on Bob Herbert's NY Times bloog this morning,"Barack Obama has proved once again that black people have to work twice as hard to be thought of as half as good as white people."

I HOPE WE DO GET A BLACK PREZ!!!Not just because Obama is a Democrat but because I want to see black people as fully franchized American citizens My husband was career Army and we were stationed at Ft Riley Kansas.You know the one that was a free state before the civil war?Black soldiers were not allowed to eat in any resturants in town or enjoy the privileges accorded white folks The black soldiers could fight, bleed and die for their country but were second-class citizens. When they bled their blood was exactly the same color as ours

I am posting this on Election Day just as the results are coming in. I work at a small college in Ohio and we had an Obama campaign headquarters on our campus. I stopped in this evening to see how things were going and got roped into making a few phone calls. It was great. The efforts and enthusiasm of the students was invigorating. I should have done this sooner.

For the first time in quite a while I am proud to be a Democrat!We over came racial prejudce and elected a black man to the White House!I hope Obama can make a defining moment out of their entry to the White House the way Jack and Jackie did with their little family. After a thourough disinfecting after the Bush bunch moves out.

The decision to choose Obama as the next president will lay the foundation for more economic crisis and further remove capitalism from the United States of America. Further regulation of any kind will only create more government, more inefficiencies, and more problems. Moral hazard created by regulation is cause for our current economic problems. Unfortunately, Obama may not bring the "change" we need.

The 28 year Republiklan party revolution joyride of harsh conservatism, poor bashing, abusive markets and corporations that support them, and lack of regulation that has brought death to innocent people has ended.